Scottish Parliament staff banned from wearing rainbow lanyards

Scottish Parliament staff have been banned from wearing rainbow lanyards or badges, officials said.

The move, which will ban all personalized lanyards and badges related to social causes, is designed to “minimize the risk of perceived bias.”

The ban only applies to Holyrood staff and does not apply to MSP and its employees.

The policy was announced on Thursday by Labor MP Clare Baker on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Body Corporate (SPCB), the cross-party group of MPs responsible for running Holyrood.

Conservative MP Tess White asked about reports that some people were being asked to remove badges or clothing associated with social movements, such as the purple, white and green of the suffragettes.

Ms Baker said: “Employees of corporate institutions must act in an impartial manner.

“As an update, until recently, corporate staff were not allowed to wear personalized lanyards. This was introduced in 2017 as part of a diversity inclusion strategy.

“However, a review of the code of conduct has just been completed.

“It has been decided that all staff (employed by body corporates) must wear a purple lanyard issued by the Council.

“This decision will help minimize the risk of perceptual bias and avoid any perception that wearing such items may influence our own decision-making.”

Staff can still wear badges showing their pronouns and can still wear poppies as Poppy Scotland is the only charity recognized by the SPCB.

Lorna Foreman, head of people and culture at Holyrood Parliament, said in an email to staff on Wednesday that groups had accused parliamentary staff of failing to be impartial during government policy debates. Also bearing signs that may be seen as supporting one side.

She said: “Wearing personalized lanyards and/or pins and badges to show support for social movements and movements or organizations has led some organizations and individuals to believe that Scottish Parliament services cannot be impartial when supporting parliamentary debates on government policy, proposing new Suggestions.” Law and current major social issues.

“This decision will help minimize the risk of perceptual bias and avoid any perception that wearing such items may influence our own decision-making.”